Ballari
The defeat in the Sandur by-election has been accepted by former Minister Gali Janardhana Reddy. He expressed surprise at the manner of the loss after the Congress candidate secured victory by a margin of 9,000 votes.
While addressing the media following the announcement of results, Reddy alleged that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had campaigned extensively at the local level. It was stated that over Rs 100 crore was spent during the election. Reddy accused the ruling party of using money and power to influence the outcome. Reports of misconduct by police officials during the elections were also mentioned.
Reddy emphasized that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had gained significant support, with 83,000 votes received. He remarked that this was the first time such a large number of votes were cast in favor of the BJP in Sandur. According to him, only 5,000 additional votes were needed for a win.
Reddy commented on the reduced lead compared to previous elections, pointing to various local issues that contributed to the result. He stated that this defeat does not reflect a major setback for his party.
The Congress victory in Sandur was described as part of a broader trend, with similar outcomes observed in other parts of the state. Reddy criticized the ruling party for allegedly misusing its power to secure electoral victories.
